Communications Officer - External Relations
|
BACKGROUND
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and of wetland biodiversity and services. It was the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Secretariat of the Convention has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services to the Convention’s Contracting Parties for the operations and implementation of the Convention.
The Convention on Wetlands, also known as the “Ramsar Convention” from the name of the city in Iran where it was signed in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetland biodiversity and services. It was the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Ramsar Convention Secretariat has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), provides some administrative services to the Convention’s Contracting Parties for the operations and implementation of the Convention.
The Secretariat’s communications team provides the skills and capacity to ensure that the Secretariat, on behalf of its Parties, is able to communicate about wetlands both formally and informally to a broad range of stakeholders from governments to other international organizations and UN Agencies, NGOs, Community Based Organizations, scientists, the private sector, and the broad public, to encourage their engagement in wise use and enjoyment of wetlands.
Central to this function is the development of close partnerships with the private sector, which is a key operational objective of Ramsar’s Strategic Plan “to pursue the involvement of the private sector in wetland conservation and to seek opportunities for private sector funding of wetland projects under Ramsar”.
Since 1998, the Secretariat has maintained an innovative partnership with the Danone Group and its Evian Mineral Waters Ltd Company in France. Based on the encouraging results of this partnership, in summer 2007, Danone and Evian signed an additional agreement with Ramsar to support an international programme focusing on the wise use of water resources (“Ecole de protection de l’eau”) and promoting hands-on approaches by local players involved in maintaining or restoring wetlands, promoting the well-being and active involvement of local communities living near wetlands and providing them with fair access to natural resources (projects terminating in 2011). In autumn 2008, the Danone Group created the “Danone Fund for Nature” and signed a tripartite agreement with the Ramsar Secretariat and IUCN to work jointly in support of projects to mitigate climate change through wetland functions and to reduce poverty through biodiversity conservation. Based on the experience of the "Danone Fund for Nature" Danone has developed a new approach to carbon economy by creating the " Livelihoods Fund" investment programme to develop carbon sequestration projects (such as the restoration of mangroves) or energy efficiency in developing countries. The Fund aims to use carbon absorption capacity of specific ecosystems such as rainforests mangroves to finance the economic development of village communities from the restoration of these key settings.
In order to be able to cope with the increasing needs of administration, communication and coordination of the activities of projects and the Danone-Evian supported outreach programme of the Convention (including activities related to World Wetlands Day), under these agreements, a staff position was created in mid-2008 to support the partnership. During 2010, the partnership programme between Danone-Evian and Ramsar was redefined and renewed for the period 2011-2015. As the relationship develops, the Ramsar Secretariat continues to need the continued services of a dynamic, outgoing, diplomatic and organized person, to administer the ongoing activities and to prepare the future evolution of the partnership programme.
The Secretariat of the Convention has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides some administrative services to the Convention’s Contracting Parties for the operations and implementation of the Convention.
The Convention on Wetlands, also known as the “Ramsar Convention” from the name of the city in Iran where it was signed in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetland biodiversity and services. It was the first of the modern global multilateral environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific critical ecosystem.
The Ramsar Convention Secretariat has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland where the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), provides some administrative services to the Convention’s Contracting Parties for the operations and implementation of the Convention.
The Secretariat’s communications team provides the skills and capacity to ensure that the Secretariat, on behalf of its Parties, is able to communicate about wetlands both formally and informally to a broad range of stakeholders from governments to other international organizations and UN Agencies, NGOs, Community Based Organizations, scientists, the private sector, and the broad public, to encourage their engagement in wise use and enjoyment of wetlands.
Central to this function is the development of close partnerships with the private sector, which is a key operational objective of Ramsar’s Strategic Plan “to pursue the involvement of the private sector in wetland conservation and to seek opportunities for private sector funding of wetland projects under Ramsar”.
Since 1998, the Secretariat has maintained an innovative partnership with the Danone Group and its Evian Mineral Waters Ltd Company in France. Based on the encouraging results of this partnership, in summer 2007, Danone and Evian signed an additional agreement with Ramsar to support an international programme focusing on the wise use of water resources (“Ecole de protection de l’eau”) and promoting hands-on approaches by local players involved in maintaining or restoring wetlands, promoting the well-being and active involvement of local communities living near wetlands and providing them with fair access to natural resources (projects terminating in 2011). In autumn 2008, the Danone Group created the “Danone Fund for Nature” and signed a tripartite agreement with the Ramsar Secretariat and IUCN to work jointly in support of projects to mitigate climate change through wetland functions and to reduce poverty through biodiversity conservation. Based on the experience of the "Danone Fund for Nature" Danone has developed a new approach to carbon economy by creating the " Livelihoods Fund" investment programme to develop carbon sequestration projects (such as the restoration of mangroves) or energy efficiency in developing countries. The Fund aims to use carbon absorption capacity of specific ecosystems such as rainforests mangroves to finance the economic development of village communities from the restoration of these key settings.
In order to be able to cope with the increasing needs of administration, communication and coordination of the activities of projects and the Danone-Evian supported outreach programme of the Convention (including activities related to World Wetlands Day), under these agreements, a staff position was created in mid-2008 to support the partnership. During 2010, the partnership programme between Danone-Evian and Ramsar was redefined and renewed for the period 2011-2015. As the relationship develops, the Ramsar Secretariat continues to need the continued services of a dynamic, outgoing, diplomatic and organized person, to administer the ongoing activities and to prepare the future evolution of the partnership programme.
JOB DESCRIPTION
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Communications Strategy
- Work closely with the Head of Communications to ensure the communications objectives are met and measured
- Support the Head of Communications in project and event-specific communication strategies and content
- Establish weekly meetings with appropriate agendas/news/information between the Communications and Partnership teams as a forum for discussing opportunities to involve the private sector and others in the Conventions work; monitor developments within the private sector arena and brief as required
2. Partnerships
Support the Head of Communications in the coordination of the existing Partnerships
a) Danone-Evian / Ramsar Partnership
- Maintain regular operational contact with the project stakeholders, project manager and senior management at Danone-Evian, assuring best exchange of information, knowledge and planning between the partners (Danone-Evian and Ramsar) and their respective subsidiaries (companies, Contracting Parties, etc.) and any beneficiaries of grants
- Prepare, in conjunction with the Head of Communications, an annual work plan and budget for the daily operations of the partnership
- Administer the programme including responsibility for budget management and provide the required reporting at the bi-annual Steering Group meeting
- Lead on the preparation and production of the annual World Wetlands Day materials working closely with Danone-Evian on content and channel; including drafting texts and working with wetland experts, designers, translators, to identify appropriate key messages and communication tools
- In conjunction with the Head of Communications and the Head of Strategy and Partnerships, develop and expand the partnership programme where appropriate, such as with the Livelihoods Fund and on-the-ground partnerships for work in Danone Group countries
- Ensure that relations with Danone-Evian sits at the core of the Secretariat, providing cross fertilisation of ideas across science and communications, giving deeper integration into the workings of the Convention
b. Biosphere Alliance
- Maintain regular operational contact with the key contacts at Star Alliance, in collaboration with the Head of Strategy and Partnerships
- Provide relevant information for inclusion in the Biosphere Connections newsletter; suggest content for inclusion in in-flight magazines; liaise re conference attendance; work with individual member airlines to integrate salient facts into their own marketing efforts
1. Communications Strategy
- Work closely with the Head of Communications to ensure the communications objectives are met and measured
- Support the Head of Communications in project and event-specific communication strategies and content
- Establish weekly meetings with appropriate agendas/news/information between the Communications and Partnership teams as a forum for discussing opportunities to involve the private sector and others in the Conventions work; monitor developments within the private sector arena and brief as required
2. Partnerships
Support the Head of Communications in the coordination of the existing Partnerships
a) Danone-Evian / Ramsar Partnership
- Maintain regular operational contact with the project stakeholders, project manager and senior management at Danone-Evian, assuring best exchange of information, knowledge and planning between the partners (Danone-Evian and Ramsar) and their respective subsidiaries (companies, Contracting Parties, etc.) and any beneficiaries of grants
- Prepare, in conjunction with the Head of Communications, an annual work plan and budget for the daily operations of the partnership
- Administer the programme including responsibility for budget management and provide the required reporting at the bi-annual Steering Group meeting
- Lead on the preparation and production of the annual World Wetlands Day materials working closely with Danone-Evian on content and channel; including drafting texts and working with wetland experts, designers, translators, to identify appropriate key messages and communication tools
- In conjunction with the Head of Communications and the Head of Strategy and Partnerships, develop and expand the partnership programme where appropriate, such as with the Livelihoods Fund and on-the-ground partnerships for work in Danone Group countries
- Ensure that relations with Danone-Evian sits at the core of the Secretariat, providing cross fertilisation of ideas across science and communications, giving deeper integration into the workings of the Convention
b. Biosphere Alliance
- Maintain regular operational contact with the key contacts at Star Alliance, in collaboration with the Head of Strategy and Partnerships
- Provide relevant information for inclusion in the Biosphere Connections newsletter; suggest content for inclusion in in-flight magazines; liaise re conference attendance; work with individual member airlines to integrate salient facts into their own marketing efforts
REQUIREMENTS
|
• The principal qualities required are enthusiasm and a commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development issues, including issues related to wetlands and water management • The person should be an excellent communicator with a friendly personality and good sense of humour • Excellent drafting, writing and editorial skills in English. Equivalent skills in French and/or Spanish preferred • Experience in project, programme and office management and administration, including software applications. Specific communication experience in modern media is required. • A minimum of 5 years' professional experience in the fields of communication, promotion, project administration, or ideally a combination of these. • Experience in the environment or development field would be a significant advantage. • This position is available to candidates who qualify for employment in Switzerland: Swiss and EU nationals and candidates holding B and C work permits for Switzerland • This position is available to candidates who qualify for employment in Switzerland: Swiss and EU nationals and candidates holding B or C work permits for Switzerland |
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 86'330 and CHF 107'913, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN